Rebirth #01 - The Dawn of a New Day

by Angelica ( lilithschilde@roadrunner.com )

Archive: M_A, anyone else just ask

Category: AU, Angst, Q/O

Rating: G for now

Spoilers: Tiny little one for AOTC

Series: Rebirth

Series Timeline: Begins a few weeks after AOTC

Summary: Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi does the unthinkable...

Disclaimers: George owns it. I play with it. But I give all my money to Star Wars merchandising, so I have none to give him if he sues me. Feedback: Please!? I'll love you for ever and ever...ok, well, I'll be really happy.

Notes: This is the first part of a series. I don't know how long it will be. I suppose it will depend on the feedback I recieve. :o) If you like it, I'll keep going. Special thanks to my Master, Jenn, who beta'd this for me at work today and gave me great words of encouragement.

The rains of Kamino poured over the lone Jedi Knight, but they could not wash away the guilt in his heart. Pulling down the hood of his robe, the young man stared up into the vastness of space, looking for answers to a question he had asked himself over and over these past few weeks. What was he doing?

Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi had come to Kamino several weeks ago to find out information vital to protecting Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo. What he had found shocked him: a clone army. Hundreds of thousands of clones, prepared to protect the Republic. These soldiers were the future of the Republic, Obi-Wan knew, but his thoughts could go no further than his own future, a life of duty; duty to the Jedi, duty to his Padawan...but what of his heart? He had been empty these past ten years, filled with a longing that could not be filled. But now there was a chance.

He had given the cloners something precious to him, the last remnants of his Master. He had kept the lock of Qui-Gon's hair in the pommel of his lightsaber all these years, as a reminder of the man he had loved more than life itself. He'd never thought those strands would weave together to change his life so completely.

Obi-Wan turned as Taun We approached, her long silver body seeming to float as she walked. Folding his hands inside the sleeves of his robe, Obi-Wan entered the complex.

"We have completed the final phase, Master Jedi. Will you come and see?"

Nodding silently, Obi-Wan followed the woman through the maze of pure white hallways, pausing only so that a security code could be entered to allow access to the secret room.

There, in a clear cradle, wrapped in a white blanket, was his future. Obi-Wan leaned over to pull back the soft blanket, smiling as the small downy chestnut head appeared. He started when the tiny eyes opened, revealing orbs of midnight blue behind the soft lashes. Those eyes captured his soul, and Obi-Wan knew then that he didn't care what moral laws he had broken; he would face each and every day from this point on with love in his heart, and a meaning to his life.

Reaching down, Obi-Wan brushed a finger gently over the child's cheek, pleased with the smile that formed on the cherubic face at his touch. With a deep breath, he released the words he'd dreamt of saying for the past ten years, whispering them to the child before him. "Welcome back, my love, my Qui-Gon."